photo #569070

ITALIAN AMERICANS IN WORLD WAR II During World War II, an estimated 1.2 million Americans of Italian descent served in the U.S. military, constituting one of the largest segments of the US combat forces of about 12 million. However, elderly Italian mothers and fathers were not allowed to visit sons in the U.S. armed forces, who were assigned to military installations. Shortly after the United States declared war on Italy in 1941, the federal government classified more than 600,000 Italians living in the United States as "internal enemies." Despite the difficulties they faced, including the chance of having to fight against Italians, countless Italian Americans received decorations for bravery, fourteen of whom received the Medal of Honor. JOHN BASILONE Rank and organization: Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division Date and place of action: 24 and 25 October 1942, Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Entered service at: New Jersey Date and place of birth: 4 November 1916, Buffalo, New York VITO R. BERTOLDO Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, United States Army, Company A, 242nd Infantry, 42nd Infantry Division Date and place of action: 9 and 10 January 1945, Hatten, France Entered service at: Decatur, Illinois Date and place of birth: 1 December 1916, Decatur, Illinois WILLIBALD C. BIANCHI Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, United States Army, 45th Infantry Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts Date and place of action: 3 February 1942, near Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands Entered service at: New Ulm, Minnesota Date and place of birth: New Ulm, Minnesota ANTHONY CASAMENTO Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division Date and place of action: 1 November 1942, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York Date and place of birth: 16 November 1920, Brooklyn, New York RALPH CHELI Rank and organization: Major, United States Army Air Corps Date and place of action: 18 August 1943, near Wewak, New Guinea Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York Date and place of birth: San Francisco, California JOSEPH J. CICCHETTI Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company A, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 9 February 1945, south Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands Entered service at: Waynesburg, Ohio Date and place of birth: Waynesburg, Ohio MIKE COLALILLO Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Company C, 398th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 7 April 1945, near Untergriesheim, Germany Entered service at: Duluth, Minnesota Date and place of birth: Hibbing, Minnesota PETER J. DALESSONDRO Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, United States Army, Company E, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 22 December 1944, near Kalterherberg, Germany Entered service at: Watervliet, New York Date and place of birth: 19 May 1918, Watervliet, New York ANTHONY P. DAMATO Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Marine Corps Date and place of action: 19 and 20 February 1944, Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands Entered service at: Pennsylvania Date and place of birth: 28 March 1922, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania ARTHUR F. DEFRANZO Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army, 1st Infantry Division Date and place of action: 10 June 1944, near Vaubadon, France Entered service at: Saugus, Massachusetts Date and place of birth: Saugus, Massachusetts GINO J. MERLI Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division Date and place of action: 4 and 5 September 1944, near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium Entered service at: Peckville, Pennsylvania Date and place of birth: Scranton, Pennsylvania FRANK J. PETRARCA Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Medical Detachment, 145th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 27 July 1943, Horseshoe Hill, New Georgia, Solomon Islands Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio Date and place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio ROBERT M. VIALE Second Lieutenant, United States Army, Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Date and place of action: 5 February 1945, Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands Entered service at: Ukiah, California Date and place of birth: Bayside, California